FC Bayern Women continue winning run away at Köln

FC Bayern Women made it 10 Bundesliga wins in a row with a commanding 5-0 victory away at Köln on Saturday, with all the goals coming in the first half. Sydney Lohmann got things going on 11 minutes at the Franz-Kremer-Stadion in Cologne. Klara Bühl then hit a brace either side of captain Lina Magull’s finish, before Maximiliane Rall rounded off the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

The result moves Bayern on to 40 points in second place in the Bundesliga, just two points off leaders Wolfsburg, who come to Munich next weekend.

Grohs returns

Head coach Alexander Straus made just one change to the team that beat Duisburg 4-0 at home last weekend. Goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs was available again after illness and replaced Laura Benkarth. Bayern were without Giulia Gwinn (cruciate ligament), Linda Dallmann (ankle), Carolin Simon (muscular) and Tainara (ankle) in Cologne.

Excellent first half

The visitors started well and quickly made it clear that they intended to take all three points back to Munich. Lohmann came close to opening the scoring inside 10 minutes with an effort from the edge of the box, but was denied by the post. However, there was no stopping her only moments later when she pinched the ball off defender Celina Degen and found the far corner. Top scorer Lea Schüller could have doubled the advantage but was thwarted by goalkeeper Manon Klett.

Four goals from three goalscorers

Die Frauen continued to dominate the play and were finally two goals up on 22 minutes when Bühl drove in from the left and found the near bottom corner. The ball was in the Köln net again shortly after when Magull exchanged passes with Georgia Stanway to finish the move. Things weren’t over there, either. Lohmann glided into the box on 37 minutes, getting past several defenders before laying the ball back to Bühl to tap in the fourth. And on the stroke of half-time, Rall made it five from Schüller’s square ball.

Commanding second half

Köln returned for the second half looking much better and produced the first chance after the restart, but former Bayern striker Many Islacker hit the crossbar. It was a wake-up call for FCB, who then took the sting out of the game despite numerous substitutions. Schüller could’ve even made it half a dozen if not for a save from Klett. It meant the score remained 5-0 for Bayern in Cologne.

Home games against Arsenal and Wolfsburg

It was a very good start to a big week for Bayern as they prepare to host Arsenal in the UEFA Women‘s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday (tickets still available here). Die Frauen then host Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg in a pivotal top-of-the-table clash at the FC Bayern Campus on Saturday.